Modular injection system for avian embryos

ABSTRACT

A sterilizing fluid passageway is defined by the annular space between a cylindrical injection needle and a surrounding cylindrical punch. A sterilizing fluid entry fitting allows the sterilizing fluid to be added to the passageway. In this manner, it will be understood that sterilizing fluid entering a fitting will travel through the passageway to clean the interior of a punch and an exterior of the needle. As an additional feature, however, the invention further comprises fluid exit openings that are adjacent to and partially above the lowermost portions of the punch, i.e., those portions that are most likely to enter an egg during injection. The openings permit a sterilizing fluid to travel from the entry fitting through the passageway and then to the exterior surface of the punch so that the sterilizing fluid sterilizes the passageway, the needle and both the interior and exterior portions of the punch that are most likely to enter an egg during injection.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 07/765,426, filedSep. 25, 1991 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,979.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the injection of avian embryos, and inparticular relates to an injection apparatus and associated method inwhich individual eggs are injected from floating injection modules inwhich each module can orient itself both horizontally and vertically toan individual egg even where the eggs are of different sizes and may bepresented in slightly different orientations to the other modules. Usingthe invention, each individual egg is injected as closely as possible toa desired location, both horizontally and vertically, and a plurality ofeggs can be concurrently accurately and precisely injected regardless ofthe individual differences in size and orientation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The desirability of injecting eggs has been recognized for some time.Initially, the purpose of injecting eggs was to prepare various vaccinesusing the egg as a growth medium for the vaccine. The vaccine was thenharvested from the egg and used as desired.

More recent developments have aimed at injecting live eggs for thepurpose of accomplishing some beneficial or therapeutic affect on thebird that will eventually hatch from the egg. One main advantage ofinjecting the egg rather than the live bird is basically related to theease of injection. Eggs can be kept immobile and handled ratherefficiently in comparison to newborn or older birds. Furthermore, inaddition to the mechanical ease of injecting eggs, there also appear tobe certain therapeutic advantages in either inoculating or otherwisetreating embryos rather than live birds. These advantages have becomeparticularly important in the poultry industry i.e., for chickens andturkeys.

Given the desirability of injecting eggs for both of the describedpurposes, several basic techniques have been attempted. These generallyinclude either forcing fluids through the shell of an egg using somesort of pressurization system or physically forming an opening in theshell of an egg and then adding the desired fluid. In turn, injectionusing some type of needle arrangement has been one of the basictechniques for physically opening an egg for such purposes.

One goal of the devices that physically inject fluids is to deliver thefluid to a consistent position--i.e. vertically and horizontally--withineach egg. For example, merely opening the top of an egg and deliveringfluid into the air sack above the amniotic fluid is not appropriate fordelivery of all substances. Some substances, in order to be effective,must be delivered directly into the amniotic fluid. Such delivery,however, raises an additional risk that when the injection device,commonly a needle, enters the amniotic fluid it risks injuring or evendestroying the live embryo therein.

Therefore, a device which has the goal of injecting a large number ofeggs on a relatively rapid basis, and of doing so while delivering afluid substance to the same location within each egg, particularly whendesired into the amniotic fluid, must deal with the reality that eggs,although generally of similar size, are not identical in size, even iftaken from identical types of birds. The differences in size areparticularly magnified compared to the normal operation of any wellconstructed machine in which the movement of the various parts is ratherprecisely and accurately governed by the physical parameters of themachine.

To date, there have been a number of attempts to orient eggs andinjection devices with respect to one another so that each individualegg can be injected accurately, and a plurality of eggs can be handledwith precision.

One example is U.S. Pat. No. 3,377,989 to Sandhedge in which injectionneedles are disposed within "egg size variation members" that are heldin place by a cross bar. When the egg size variation member strikes anegg, it is permitted a slight variation of vertical travel toaccommodate eggs of slightly different sizes.

Other methods are set forth in several patents assigned to the assigneeof the present invention. These include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,681,063 and4,903,635 both to Hebrank, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,464 (Ser. No.07/466,878, Filed Jan. 18, 1990) to Lewis. Each of these devices uses anovel combination of lifting eggs from their top portions, preferably bysuction, in order to orient them with respect to injection needles. TheHebrank patents disclose a method of delivering fluid to the injectionneedles from a common supply, while the Lewis patent discloses analternative advantageous arrangement for using a plurality of syringesassociated with a respective plurality of injection needles.

In spite of the success obtained from the Hebrank and Lewis devices,however, there remains an addition problem in injecting eggs,particularly when they are delivered for injection in large groups. Thisproblem is that when the eggs are delivered, typically in an egg tray or"flat", they may be positioned slightly off of a direct verticalorientation; i.e they are tilted. Accordingly, if the eggs are slightlytilted the ability to accurately and precisely control the travel of aneedle will be somewhat lessened, even where the vertical relativetravel between the egg and the needle is carefully controlled to accountfor differences in egg height. In other words, to date it has beendifficult to accurately and precisely inject an egg with a device thatincludes a plurality of injection needles if an individual egg is tiltedslightly off a direct vertical alignment.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and an associated method for injecting a plurality of eggswith an appropriate injection device herein each injection needle may bealigned with an egg not only with respect to the height of individualeggs, but also with eggs that may be misaligned with respect to thevertical, and still deliver a desired fluid as accurately and preciselyas possible into each egg.

The invention meets this object with an apparatus that comprises agenerally horizontally oriented tooling plate with openingstherethrough. An injector rests generally vertically in each opening inthe tooling plate with a lower portion of the injector dependingdownwardly below the tooling plate, and an upper portion of the injectorresting at or above the tooling plate. Means are included for raisingand lowering the tooling plate and the injector therewith so that whenthe plate is lowered and the lower portion of each resting injectorcontacts an object such as an egg, the resting injector stops anddisengages from the tooling plate while the tooling plate proceedsdownwardly. When the injector disengages from the tooling plate, it isfree to move in a translational direction independent of the toolingplate to therefore more accurately meet the top portion of an egg thatmay be partially misaligned with respect to the vertical. When thetooling plate is raised, it reengages the injector and carries itupwardly and away from the egg.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of theinvention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, willbecome more readily apparent upon consideration of the followingdetailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplaryembodiments, and wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the overall arrangement of theapparatus including the tooling plate and the injectors;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tooling plate and the injectors andin conjunction with a plurality of eggs;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an injector according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG.3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the manner in which the injector and thetooling plate can be operated to align the injector both vertically andhorizontally as closely as possible to the top most portion of an egg;

FIG. 7 is a more detailed cross-sectional view of the punch and needleportion of the injectors according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8--8 of FIG. 7; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a feature of the present invention in whichthe injectors that are free to align themselves both vertically andhorizontally with an egg can be temporarily stabilized on an egg duringthe injection stroke.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is illustrated in overall fashion in FIGS. 1 and2. These illustrate that the invention comprises a generallyhorizontally oriented tooling plate with openings 21 therethrough. FIGS.1 and 2 illustrate a plurality of such openings 21 in the tooling plate20.

An injector broadly designated at 22 rests generally vertically in theopening 21 in the tooling plate 20. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a pluralityof injectors 22, with one injector 22 in each respective opening 21 inthe tooling plate 20. A lower portion broadly designated at 23 (FIG. 3)of the injector 22 depends downwardly below the tooling plate 20 and anupper portion broadly designated at 24 rests at or above the toolingplate 20.

The invention includes means, shown as the cylinder 25, cylinder shaft26, horizontal frame member 27, and upright shafts 28, for raising andlowering the tooling plate 20 and the injectors 22 therewith. When thetooling plate 20 is lowered and the lower portion 23 of the restinginjector 22 strikes an object such as an egg to be injected, theinjector 22 stops while the tooling plate 20 proceeds downwardly untilthe injector 22 disengages from the tooling plate 20. At this point, theinjector 22 is free to move in a translational direction independent ofthe tooling plate 20 to seek and come to rest upon the top most portionof an egg, even if that egg is slightly tilted. When the tooling plate20 is raised, it reengages the injector 22, straightens the injector 22with respect to the vertical, and carries it upwardly and away from theobject being injected. This sequence of operation is perhaps bestillustrated by a combination of FIGS. 3, 5 and 6.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7, the lower portion 23 of theinjector 22 further comprises a punch 31 and a needle 32 with the punch31 surrounding the needle 32 in coaxial relationship therewith. As bestillustrated in FIG. 7, both the punch 31 and the needle 32 preferablyhave bevelled tips for more efficient entry into an egg.

The upper portion 24 of the injector 22 further comprises a fluid drivencylinder 33 which in preferred embodiments is a double shafted, doubleacting air driven cylinder that drives the punch and the needle inreciprocal opposite directions between respective retracted andinjecting positions (FIGS. 5 and 6). FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 illustrate thefeatures of a preferred cylinder. The cylinder comprises a respectivepair of air entry fittings 34 and 35 which are connected to respectiveair supply tubes or hoses 36, 37, respectively. As illustrated in FIG.3, to drive the punch and needle downwardly, air is directed into theair hose 36 and through the air entry fitting 34 through an opening 40in the cylinder 33. The incoming air drives the piston 41 which isillustrated with an annular seal 42 for bearing against the innerdiameter of the cylinder 33. At the bottom of the piston stroke, and todesirably return the punch and needle to a retracted position, air isdirected in through air hose 37 and air entry fitting 35 and travelsthrough the housing of the cylinder 33 into lower portions thereof so asto drive the piston 41 back upwardly. The total path of travel throughthe cylinder of the air entering through the hose 37 and the fitting 35is not specifically illustrated, but it will be understood that itcomprises an opening analogous to the opening 40, and an associated pathto the lower portion of the cylinder 33.

The use of a double acting cylinder, rather than a cylinder with aspring or other kind of biased return, provides the opportunity to makea more compact apparatus and to drive it in a more controlled fashion.It will be understood, however, that other devices such as a singlestroke cylinder with a mechanically biased return, solenoid devices, orhydraulic devices, could be used in the present invention, but that thedouble acting cylinder is presently preferable.

FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 further illustrate that the lower portion 23 of theinjector 22 comprises a cylindrical punch guide 43 Which surrounds thepunch 31 and the needle 32. Bottom portions of the punch guide, shown asthe slightly larger diameter portion 44, extend below the needle 32 andpunch 31 when the needle and punch are in a retracted position (FIGS. 3and 5). When the needle and punch are in the injecting position (FIG. 6)the needle 32 extends below the bottom portion 44 of the punch guide 43,while the punch 31 extends to a lower position within the punch guide43. In a preferred embodiment, this lowermost portion 44 of the punchguide 43 forms an egg receiving cup.

As set forth earlier, one of the objects of the invention is to providea means by which the portion of the injector that meets an egg can movein a translational fashion, as well as in a vertical fashion. Part ofthe means for accomplishing this include the relationship between thelower portion 23 of the injector 22 and the openings 21 in the toolingplate 20. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the lower portion 23 of theinjector, particularly the punch guide 43, is circular in cross-section.The opening 21 in the tooling plate 20 is also circular and has adiameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the circular cross-sectionof the lower portion 23. The respective difference in size between theopening 21 and the injector 22 permits the lower portion 23 of theinjector 22 to move in translational fashion within the opening 21 inthe tooling plate (FIG. 5).

FIG. 3 also illustrates some additional details of the preferredembodiment of the invention. These include a biasing spring 45 that actsas a flexible spacer that ensures that the punch 31 penetrates the eggbefore the needle 32 penetrates it. The spring is preferably strongenough to permit the punch 31 to puncture the egg, but flxible enough tobe driven by the air cylinder. The spring 45 is complemented by a headportion 46 and a punch stop ring 47. At its upper portion, the springcarries a spring stop 50 that is most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 5 and6. In addition to providing some additional mass, the spring stop 50serves as the upper head of the spring 45 and a partial support for theturns of the spring 45.

FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 further illustrate that the punch guide 43, which ispreferably formed of a polymeric material, includes the smaller diametermain portion, the larger diameter lower portion 44, and a largerdiameter upper portion 51. The upper portion 51 rests in the opening 21of the tooling plate 20. In the particular embodiment illustrated, afurther cylindrical top portion of the punch guide 52 extends upwardlyinto the upper portion 24 of the injector 22 and is secured in place byone or more set screws 53, or any other conventional means.

As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in preferred embodiments theinvention further comprises means for aligning an object to be injectedbeneath the injectors 22 resting in the tooling plate 20. In thepreferred embodiment, the object aligning means comprises means foraligning an egg beneath the injector 22 resting in the tooling plate 20,illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as an egg tray or flat 54 carried by anappropriate conveyor 55. As the structure and function of both egg flatsand conveyors is well known by those of skill in this art and can beselected as desired for any particular application of the invention, theoperation and structure of each will not otherwise be described in anyfurther detail.

As illustrated in majority of the drawings, the present inventionfurther comprises a stabilizer plate 56 which is positioned above thetooling plate 20 and has one or more openings 57 therethrough. The upperportions 24 of the injectors 22 extend through these openings 57, butthe injectors 22 are otherwise not attached to the stabilizer plate 56.As a result, when the injector 22 disengages from the tooling plate 20,the upper portions 24 remain oriented by the stabilizer plate 56, butare still permitted translational motion. In preferred embodiments, thetooling plate 20 and the stabilizer plate 56 are in fixed relationshipto one another so that the raising and lowering means raise and lowerthe stabilizing plate 56 along with the tooling plate 20. As illustratedand preferred, the openings 57 and the stabilizer plate 56 are insubstantial registration with the openings 21 in the tooling plate 20.It will be understood that although the preferred illustrated embodimentincorporates two separate plates 20 and 56, a single plate or block ofappropriate dimensions could perform the equivalent functions.

In preferred embodiments, the openings 57 in the stabilizer plate 56 arelarger than the upper portions 24 of the injectors that extendtherethrough. In this embodiment, the stabilizer plate 56 furthercomprises releasable means for securing upper portions of each injector22 to the stabilizer plate while the injector is injecting an egg, andthen releasing the injector so that the vertical and translationalmovement of the injector is more independent of the stabilizer plate. Inthe drawings, the releasable securing means are shown as the inflatablefluid bladder portions 60 that are adjacent to the perimeter of eachopening 57 in the stabilizing plate 56. The bladder 60 is inflatable toa size sufficient to contact and secure the upper portion 24 of theinjector 22. When the bladder is deflated, the injector is free to movewithout interference from the bladder 60. As illustrated, the bladder 60can be formed of an appropriately expandable tubing.

The securing means minimizes movement of the injector 22 during punching(including recoil and vibration) and therefore assures a more accuratepunching and injection stroke. It will also be understood that althoughthe releasable securing means has been illustrated as the bladder 60,other mechanical, electro-mechanical, hydraulic, or other devices couldbe incorporated in its place.

By way of further reference, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 9 show the bladderin its deflated orientation, while FIG. 6 and FIG. 10 show the bladder60 inflated and stabilizing the upper portion 24 of the injector 22. Asillustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the preferred fluid for operating thebladder is air, which can be provided from any desired or conventionalair pressure source 61. As illustrated in the drawings, the bladder 60is generally positioned in a small perimeter opening 62 that is part of,or adjacent to, the opening 57 in the stabilizer plate 56. In theillustrated embodiment the bladder 60, is held in place by a top plate63. It will be understood, of course, that there are a number of ways toposition the bladder 60 with respect to the opening 57 that areotherwise equivalent to that illustrated. Additionally, it will befurther understood that a single air pressure source with appropriatecontrols can be used to drive the fluid driven cylinders 33 as well asthe bladders 60.

FIG. 4 illustrates that in a preferred embodiment, the fluid drivencylinder 33 has a square cross-section that is somewhat larger than theopening 21 in the tooling plate 20 so that the somewhat larger cylinderportion 33 will rest on the tooling plate 20 to provide the restingrelationship between the injector 22 and the plate 20 of the invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the particular advantages of the presentinvention. As background, FIG. 3, illustrates the relationship of thetooling plate 20 and the injector 22 before the plate and injectors arelowered towards an egg 64. In the orientation of FIG. 3, the injector 22rests in the opening 21 in the plate 20, but is otherwise not fastenedthereto. Similarly, the upper portions 24 of the injector 22 extendthrough the opening 57 in the stabilizer plate 56, but are not fastenedthereto.

Given this relationship, FIG. 5 illustrates that when the tooling plate20 is lowered, and with the stabilizing plate 56 following in the mannerset forth earlier, the lowermost portion 44 of the punch guide 43 willstrike an egg 64. At this point, the previously resting injector 22 isfree to stop while the tooling plate 20 proceeds further downwardlyuntil the injector 22 disengages from the tooling plate 20. At thisfurther point, the injector 22 is free to move in a translationaldirection indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. 5 independently of thetooling plate 20 to thereby orient properly with respect to an egg 64regardless of any misorientation of the egg 64. At this point, thebladder 60 is inflated to hold the injector 22 so that the injectionstroke can proceed. The stroke is illustrated in FIG. 5 as partially inprogress. When the bladder 60 is released and then the tooling plate 20is raised, the tooling plate 20 reengages the injector 22 (FIG. 3) andcarries it upwardly and away from the egg 64 being injected. Thus, FIG.3 illustrates the relationship when the tooling plate 20 is movingdownwardly, but the injector 22 has not yet struck an egg, as well asthe relationship after an egg has been injected and tooling plate 20 hasbeen lifted far enough to reengage the injector 22.

Returning to a slightly earlier point in the sequence, FIG. 5illustrates the relationship just after the punch guide 43 has contactedan egg and has been free to adjust itself vertically to the height andtilt of the egg by virtue of the disengagement of the injector 22 fromthe tooling plate 20. Some translational movement also can take place asnecessary because of the difference in size between the punch guide 43and the opening 21, combined with the disengagement of the injector 22from the tooling plate 20.

Although the translational movement of the injectors 22 is limited tosome extent by the size of the openings 21 and 51, the translationalmovement available is sufficient given the generally vertical (if oftenslightly tilted) presentation of eggs in a typical tray or flat. Indeed,some limitation in the range of movement can be useful in keeping theoverall operation of the apparatus accurate and precise.

FIGS. 6 and 10 illustrates that when the punch guide 43 has reached theproper position, the bladders 60 can be inflated to temporarily securethe upper portion 24 of the injector 22, after which the injectionstroke proceeds. In other words, the bladder 60 is inflated before theinjection stroke starts. Following the injection stroke, alignment is nolonger critical and raising the tooling plate 20 serves to again pick upthe injectors 22 and carry them away from the eggs 64.

FIGS. 5 and 6 help illustrate that in preferred embodiments the openings21 in the tooling plate are at least partially conical and have adiameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the cylindrical punchguide which also has a conical upper portion 51 for resting in theconical opening 21.

FIGS. 7 and 8 help illustrate certain other features of the invention.First, FIG. 7 illustrates that the injector 22 includes the appropriatemeans for delivering a fluid to be injected from a supply to theinjector. This is shown as the hose fitting 65 which surrounds upperportions of the needle 32. When an appropriate fluid hose is connectedto this fitting (illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), fluid can beappropriately delivered to the interior of the needle 32 and thus towhatever object the needle injects.

FIGS. 7 and 8 also best illustrate the means for sanitizing the needleand the punch during operation of the apparatus. As illustrated therein,a sterilizing fluid passageway 66 is defined by the annular spacebetween the cylindrical injection needle 32 and the surroundingcylindrical punch 31. A sterilizing fluid entry fitting 67 allows thesterilizing fluid to be added to the passageway 66. In this manner, itwill be understood that sterilizing fluid entering the fitting 67 willtravel through the passageway 66 to clean the interior of the punch 31and the exterior of the needle 32. As an additional feature, however,the invention further comprises fluid exit openings 70 that are adjacentto and partially above the lowermost portions of the punch 31, i.e.,those portions that are most likely to enter an egg during injection.The openings 70 permit a sterilizing fluid to travel from the entryfitting 67 through the passageway 66 and then to the exterior surface ofthe punch 31 so that the sterilizing fluid sterilizes the passageway 66,the needle 32 and both the interior and exterior portions of the punch31 that are most likely to enter an egg during injection.

In addition to its structural aspects, it will be understood that inanother aspect the invention is a method of accurately and preciselyinjecting a plurality of eggs of different sizes and in which the eggsmay be at least partially vertically misoriented. The method comprisespositioning a plurality of egg injectors in a corresponding plurality ofopenings in a tooling plate, and without fixing the injectors to theplate. Portions of the injectors are smaller than the openings in thetooling plate. A plurality of eggs are positioned in substantialalignment beneath the injectors. The tooling plate is then lowered alongwith the injectors until the injectors contact the eggs and stop whilethe tooling plate is further lowered until the injectors no longer restin the tooling plate. At this point, each injector is free to stop at aposition defined by the top of each individual egg, and each injector isfurther free to move translitionally to the extent permitted by thedifference between the size of the opening in the tooling plate and thesmaller size of the injector. As a result, the injector can traveltranslationally to orient itself most accurately on the top of the egg,regardless of the position or orientation of any of the other eggs orinjectors. It will be understood that the orientation on each egg is notnecessarily absolutely perfect, but is a significant improvement overthe prior devices.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typicalpreferred embodiments of the invention, and, although specific termshave been employed, they have been used in a generic and descriptivesense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of theinvention being set forth in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:
 1. An egg injection device comprising:agenerally cylindrical injection needle; a generally cylindrical punchsurrounding said needle; .Iadd.an annular space between said cylindricalinjection needle and said surrounding cylindrical punch; .Iaddend. asterilizing fluid passageway defined by . .the.!. .Iadd.said.Iaddend.annular space between said cylindrical injection needle andsaid surrounding cylindrical punch; a sterilizing fluid entry fittingfor adding sterilizing fluid to said passageway; and fluid exit openingsadjacent to and partially above the lowermost portions of said punchthat are most likely to enter an egg during injection, said openingspermitting a sterilizing fluid to travel from said entry fitting,through said passageway, and to the exterior surface of said punch sothat the sterilizing fluid sterilizes said passageway, said needle, andthe portions of said punch that are most likely to enter an egg duringinjection. .Iadd.
 2. An egg injection device comprising:a generallycylindrical injection needle; a generally cylindrical punch surroundingsaid needle; an annular space between said cylindrical injection needleand said surrounding cylindrical punch; a sterilizing fluid passagewaydefined by said annular space between said cylindrical injection needleand said surrounding cylindrical punch; and a sterilizing fluid entryfitting for adding sterilizing fluid to said passageway, whereby thesterilizing fluid can travel from said entry fitting and through saidpassageway to sterilize said passageway, said needle, and the interiorportions of said punch. .Iaddend.